I was wondering if anyone is having digestive problems associated with menopause?  such as: inability to eat foods that you had no problem eating before, nausea (but I know this is due to the estrogen), spastic colon, diahrea, vomiting.  I've had this +/- over the past 2 years, and my dr said that even our digestion is regulated by hormones.  I was just wondering if others had this and what you may be doing for it.  thx  j

Juliana,

It seems that you may have some IBD/IBS (Digestive disorders) issues going on.  Is this something that you have discussed with your gyn or general practioner?  It may be a good idea to get an appointment set up with a gastroenterologist doctor who specializes in this.  I myself have Microscopic Colitis, which is a form of IBD.  I have  what I call mini flares during my periods too.

I would be happy to talk to you about this in more detail if you wish, either here or through email.  

Jan 5745

no  I have not seen a gastro specialist , my gyn dr said this is part of the menopause (it is also #20 on the list of symptoms), i was wondering how others dealt with this this.  I no longer have the vomiting (a nice side effect if you can call it that is I lost 45 # and am down to a very nice weight!), but still have colon discomforts.   almost like pms cramps, but not near the time I usually have them.  I was taking Digestive Enzymes which helped, but then my "body" didn't need them anymore.  It  can be nice sometimes to be very in "tune" with my body, other times it's a bother, do you know what I mean???    

I think it would be a good idea to mention to your gyn that this could be more than menopause causing all these symptoms.....It sounds like you may have to take the lead with this to your gyn....and let him/her know that you think it could be something more serious.

Menstrual cramps and colon cramping are very different to me.....but not to all of my other friends with IBD

I know what you mean about being in tune with our bodies. All in all tho, I think it is a good thing!

jan & julianna--Don't know if this will help, but I always had some difficulty with hot and spicy food, even when I was really young, so I just avoided it if possible.  Well, now that I'm almost 52, I REALLY have difficulty.  Most salad dressings bother me, onions, radishes, any kind of hot food (especially with tomato sauce, hot sauce, spices).  Seems like my breath is a blast furnace after eating this stuff, and it stays with me for 24 hours.  I just burp up a horrible taste and I don't feel good.  So my only solution is to avoid this sort of thing (same as when I was young).  I feel great when I just eat cheese, pasta, or chicken and fruit/vegetables.  I don't really like meat anyhow.  

Indigestion is the story of my life, so it's not all because I'm middle-aged.

One good thing I'd recommend to anyone is to eat yogurt if they can.  I started eating two yogurts every morning for the calcium, and a nice side effect that I noticed is that it really smooths things out inside.  I think it prevents yeast infections as well.   I haven't had a yeast infection for about 15 years, and about a month ago I felt the beginnings of one, but it just went away without developing.  I think it's due to all the yogurt.  

(Edited by CSugarGrove at 3:17 pm on June 2, 2003)

&nbsp; &nbsp;My gastroenterologist told me that hormones can<br>interact with the neurotransmitters in your stomach.<br>Premenstrually, my stomach has felt the worse!!!<br>I find fennel helps for stomach cramps.

Funny you should ask!!!I haven't had a period in only two months and just have started with the digestive problems.My stomach feels like I swallowed a bowling ball.I just took some milk of magnesia.I could eat anything before even hot and spicy and that isn't bothering me now.It wouldn't matter if I ate 4 alarm chili or oatmeal!!!I have a wedding to go to tonight and I perish the thought of putting on pantyhose!!!!!!UHG!Linda

Julianna:

The best natural product I ever found is Aloe Juice.  It's good for IBS, heart burn and other digestive problems, it's even good for a sore throat!!  The stuff I use is 150% whole leaf aloe and is a bit pricey, but  tastes really good - it's strawberry/kiwi flavor.  I found the cheaper stuff to taste TERRIBLE and be diluted so you're not really getting much aloe juice.  Hope this helps.  Lori

thx, I did try it before, but maybe I should try it again.  I had a gallon of just plain and I mixed it with a little juice, didn't taste to bad, Do you have a brand name?  

Recently, I searched this section to find info and a possible remedy for my severe digestive/IBS symptoms.  I read a post from Madge dated 6/16/02, in which she described her great success with a lactobacillus product called Culturelle, an extensively researched and patented probiotic.  I started taking Culturelle a month ago and experienced tremendous improvement within a few days.  The constipation, cramps and the immediate sense of fullness I felt after eating only a small amount have been eliminated and the bloating and gas have also been greatly reduced.  These digestive improvements have enabled me to gain weight, which is something that  concerned me since I have long been  underweight.  The other things I tried, including acidophilus capsules, were relatively ineffectual compared to Culturelle, which has been extensively studied for safety and effectiveness.  This product has greatly improved my life and I would like to thank Madge for mentioning it, if she still reads these posts.  Hopefully, it will help others, too.  Thanks to Dearest, as well, for providing us with this wonderful forum.

Krista  

The best thing I have found is Digestive Enzymes.  You buy them at a place like GNC or any health food store.  You take a capsule before each meal and it works like a charm.  Get the kind that cover all foods like dairy, proteins, fats, carbs, etc.  I don't get indigestion, bloating or anything any more.  And, they are not expensive.

Krista,

Thanks for mentioning this.......Glad to hear that you have had great success with it!

Lactobacillus is supposed to be VERY good for digestive problems.  I know I should have been taking this all along, but never did try it..Don't ask me why..  Am gonna check into it tho, when I look for my various vitamins that I want to start taking as well.

Everyone please keep in mind that it's always good to make an appointment with your doctor, (preferably a GI) doc to rule out any serious digestive problems, such as Crohns, Colitis, Colon Cancer, etc.... as leaving serious issues such as these, unattended,  can add to even more problems down the road.

I was dx'd with Colitis 11 years ago......Believe me it is no picnic.

Jan, Thanks for your response.  I'm sorry to hear you have colitis and I hope the Culturelle helps you.   I was having severe digestive problems and the Culturelle has enabled my digestive system to function normally again.  Digestive problems have been one of my worst peri symptoms and were greatly impacting my life.   Apparently, Culturelle is safe to take over the long term and I intend to use it as long as necessary. I have not noticed any negative side effects, other than some initial minor bloating and gas as the intestines adjusted to the increased  probiotic population, which is a normal occurrence in some users.  Good luck with the Culturelle, Jan,

Krista

P.S.  Do the numbers beside your name indicate your age and the year you were born? Since I was born in '57 and will be 46 in November,  I'm wondering if we are extremely close in age.  I'm looking forward to your response.

Krista, Thanks again...I hope you continue to have good results form the Culturelle!  It's always nice to find something that helps us with our issues.

That would be a yes to the numbers. Add an 11 to that too for the month for me as well. We be very very close in age.

I notice I have had more bouts of diarrhea that doesn't seem to be related to anyhting I've eaten.  And nausea---more like queasiness---anytime of the day.  I am not on any hormone replacement, regular or natural.  I did not lose the weight like some of you though, because when the queasiness passes, I am RAVENOUS, it feels like my blood sugar is low, and I want to  eat everything in sight!!---LOL.   So, I more than make up for it.  I try to keep raw veggies and fruit in plain sight so that when the nausea wears off an the hunger hits, I can eat something healthy rather than junk.  

virgomom, Have you had told your doc about these digestive problems that you have been having?

I have been having more D lately, and now that my period is here, it's pretty bad today.  Figures, its a holiday and I wanted to get out and about and have some fun today, and now this......I may not be going to far from the house, till I can quit runnin to the bathroom so much.....This ALL is the pits

Virgo-  Your symptoms sound very normal and they are common here on the boards, but like Jan I think you should talk to your doctor about them.

I used to get waves of nausea, for years, but that seems to have gone away.

I still get bouts of diarrhea for no apparent reason.  And it does get more prevalent around my period.  I carry immodium with me at all times!  I never leave home without it!  I rarely take it but it gives me comfort knowing I have it.

Boy, if it isn't one thing it's another.

Or 10 others

A few posts back, I described my success with Culturelle. Recently, I have had further digestive improvements after completing a series of allergy elimination treatments, which included many treatments for food allergies, at a clinic in Cleveland staffed by 3 Osteopathic physicians called Osteomed II. I am also using digestive enzymes with every meal and continue to take Culturelle every day. In addition, I had 6 acupuncture treatments which addressed my digestive and congestive symptoms, which my acupuncturist said are related conditions that go together. I have had so much improvement with the digestive problems that I now feel nearly normal, except for IBS flare-ups during periods. I don't know if the improvement is due to the allergy elimination treatments, the enzymes or some combination of interventions, but I feel the enzymes are helping tremendously. Osteomed II is located in Middleburg Heights, OH and has a website describing their services, which include saliva hormone testing and other menopausal services. Best wishes to everyone, Krista

One of my first symptoms when in the early stages of perimeno was nausea and dizziness which usually always happened right before I got my period. My Gyn said that it was due to the rollercoaster of hormones so she put me on the pill. That really helped alot. I have been off the pill for 3 months now and my gastro woes have turned into gas, bloating and constipation. I saw a GI yesterday who told me that "everything feels normal" but couldn't give me a diagnosis or treatment solution without having a colonoscopy which I have scheduled for May 7. Funnilly enough, my gas/bloating have been non-existent over the past few days. So, who knows. I think that gastro issues are bigger symptom of peri/meno than we are led to believe. EJ